Hyde's Reign of Terror

The emergence and violent actions of Edward Hyde, from the trampling of a child to the murder of Sir Danvers Carew and his eventual suicide.

increasingBearing stren­gth in each eventdecreasing

The Trampling of the Child

The Trampling of the Child A Hellish Encounter Mr. Richard Enfield, returning home late at night, witnesses a small man trample a young girl with deliberate cruelty. The man, later identified as Edward Hyde, is calm and defiant. Enfield collars him and gathers a crowd. The Payment of Hush Money Hyde, to avoid a scandal, offers to pay the family. He leads them to the by-street door, enters, and returns with a cheque signed by a well-known name. The cheque is genuine, but Enfield is disgusted by the man's appearance and behavior. The Seed of Suspicion This incident plants the first seeds of suspicion in Utterson's mind when he hears the story. The door becomes a symbol of the mystery connecting Hyde to Jekyll.

Hyde's Encounter with Utterson

Hyde's Encounter with Utterson A Defiant Stare Mr. Utterson, lying in wait for Hyde, finally confronts him. Hyde is hostile and evasive, but gives a defiant look when asked to show his face. He offers his address and asks how Utterson knows him. The Revelation of the Will Utterson mentions Jekyll, and Hyde's anger flares. He accuses Utterson of lying, then snarls with a savage laugh and disappears into the door. The exchange leaves Utterson with a profound sense of evil. A Glimpse of Pure Evil Utterson reflects that Hyde seems hardly human, troglodytic, and that he bears Satan's signature on his face. He fears for Jekyll's safety, believing that Hyde may be controlling him.

The Murder of Sir Danvers Carew

The Murder of Sir Danvers Carew A Brutal Attack A maid witnesses a respected elderly gentleman, Sir Danvers Carew, being brutally beaten to death by a small man. The man, Hyde, beats him with a heavy cane, trampling the body in ape-like fury. The maid faints. The Evidence Left Behind The murder weapon, a broken cane, is found. It is one that Utterson had given to Jekyll. A purse and a sealed envelope addressed to Utterson are on the victim. The police identify Hyde through the maid's description. The City's Reaction The murder shocks London. The victim is a Member of Parliament, and a huge reward is offered. Hyde's past is unearthed, revealing a history of cruelty and vile associates. But Hyde has vanished, leaving only a trail of horror.

Flight and Destruction of Evidence

Flight and Destruction of Evidence A Ransacked Room When Utterson and Inspector Newcomen search Hyde's Soho house, they find the rooms in disarray. Clothes are scattered, drawers open, and papers have been burned in the fireplace. The other half of the cane is found behind the door. The Green Cheque Book From the ashes, the inspector retrieves the butt end of a green cheque book. A visit to the bank reveals several thousand pounds to Hyde's credit. The inspector is confident of capturing Hyde. A Mysterious Disappearance But Hyde has vanished completely. He is never photographed, and few can describe him. The only consistent point is the haunting sense of deformity. He becomes a ghost, hunted by the police but untraceable.

Hyde's Desperate Return

Hyde's Desperate Return The Creature in the Cabinet After the murder, Hyde is trapped in Jekyll's body. He is forced to return to the cabinet to retrieve the drugs. He is seen by Poole, who describes him as a masked thing that looked like a monkey, causing terror. The Final Struggle Hyde paces the cabinet day and night, sending out desperate orders for the pure salt. He is a creature of pure fear and hatred, weeping like a woman or a lost soul. He tries to avoid the inevitable transformation back to Jekyll. Suicide by Poison When Utterson and Poole break in, they find Hyde's body on the floor, still twitching, with a crushed phial in his hand. He has killed himself to escape the gallows, but also to destroy Jekyll. The body is dressed in Jekyll's oversized clothes, a final symbol of their entanglement.

early in the story, a black winter morning

a few days after the trampling

October, 18—, nearly a year after the trampling

immediately after the murder, early morning

the night of the last night, after the murder